The published [[The Silmarillion|Silmarillion]] ends with the recounting of the voyage of [[Eärendil the Mariner]], but in the older versions of the Silmarillion as published in [[The History of Middle-earth]] this was not yet the end. The Silmarillion originally ended with a prophecy by [[Mandos]] about the '''Final Battle''' (or the '''Dagor Dagorath''' in [[Sindarin]]). The account is clearly inspired by and bears many similarities to the Norse legend of Ragnarok.

+

−

According to the prophecy, [[Melkor]] will discover how to break the [[Door of Night]], and will destroy the [[Sun]] and the [[Moon]]. For the love of these, [[Eärendil]] will return from the sky and shall meet [[Tulkas]], [[Manwë]] (or [[Eönwë]] his herald) and [[Túrin Turambar]] on the plains of [[Valinor]]. All the Free Peoples of [[Middle-earth]] will participate in this final battle, [[Elves]], [[Men]] and [[Dwarves]] alike. To their number will be added [[Ar-Pharazôn]] and the [[Númenóreans]] who landed at [[Aman]] in 3319 [[Second Age|SA]].

+

{{quote|[[Manwë]] will not descend from [[Taniquetil|the Mountain]] until the Dagor Dagorath, and the coming of the End, when [[Morgoth|Melkor]] returns.|[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]<ref name="Istari">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', "[[The Istari]]"</ref>}}

−

There they shall fight with Melkor. [[Tulkas]] will wrestle with him, but it will be by the hand of Túrin that finally death and destruction will be dealt to Melkor. Túrin will run his black sword [[Gurthang]] (Iron of Death) through Melkor's heart, thus avenging the [[Children of Húrin]] (Sind: Chîn Húrin), and the [[Pelóri|Pelóri Mountains]] will be levelled. The [[Silmarils]] will be recovered from the Earth, and [[Fëanor]]'s spirit shall be released from the halls of [[Mandos]] to give them to [[Yavanna]], who will break them and rekindle the light of the [[Two Trees]]. The battle will end and renew [[Arda]]'s existence: all the Elves shall awaken and the Powers will be young again.

+

The '''Final Battle''', also known as the '''Second Prophecy of Mandos''', but probably best as the '''Dagor Dagorath''' ([[Sindarin]], "Battle of all Battles"), is an apocalyptic event prophesized by [[Mandos]].

−

Following this, there will be a Second [[Music of the Ainur]]. This song will sing into being a new world. Men will sing it with the Ainur. It is unknown what the fate of the old races, or of the old world, will be in the new one. Even the Ainur do not know anything of the second world or the Second Music. All the Ainur know is that the Second Music will be greater than the First Music.

+

==The Prophecy==

+

According to the prophecy, included in both [[The Shaping of Middle-earth]] and in [[The Lost Road]], [[Morgoth|Melkor]] will discover how to break the [[Door of Night]], and will destroy the [[Sun]] and the [[Moon]]. For the love of these, [[Eärendil]] will return from the sky and shall meet [[Tulkas]], [[Manwë]] (or [[Eönwë]] his herald) and [[Túrin|Túrin Turambar]] on the plains of [[Valinor]]. All the Free Peoples of [[Middle-earth]] will participate in this final battle, [[Elves]], [[Men]], and [[Dwarves]] alike. Also in the Battle will be [[Ar-Pharazôn]] and the [[Númenóreans]] who broke the [[Ban of the Valar|Ban]] and landed at [[Aman]] in {{SA|3319}}. These Númenóreans of the [[Great Armament]] were not destroyed, but are imprisoned in the [[Caves of the Forgotten]], where they await the ending of the world. The role that they have to play in the Last Battle is unknown.

+

+

The forces of the [[Valar]] shall fight against [[Morgoth|Melkor]]. [[Tulkas]] will wrestle with him, but it will be by the hand of Túrin that finally death and utter defeat will be dealt to Melkor. Túrin will run his black sword [[Gurthang]] (Iron of Death) through Melkor's dark heart, thus avenging the [[Children of Húrin]], and the [[Pelóri]] Mountains will be leveled. In other versions of the legendarium however (see: The History of Middle-earth), Eönwë, then called Fiönwë, is the one who will kill Morgoth for his love for Arien (previously named Urwendi), instead of Turin.This is said at the end of The Hiding of Valinor.

+

+

The [[Silmarils]] will be recovered from the Earth, and [[Fëanor]]'s spirit shall be released from the [[Halls of Mandos]] and he will surrender them to [[Yavanna]]. They will be broken and their Light will rekindle the [[Two Trees]]. With the flattening of the Pelóri, the light of the Trees will cover all of Arda. The battle will end and renew [[Arda]]'s existence: all the Elves shall awaken and the Powers will be young again. Also, according to Dwarven legends, they will help their maker [[Aulë]] [[Arda Unmarred|recreate Arda]] in all its glory again.

+

+

Following this, there will be a Second [[Music of the Ainur]]. This song will sing into being a [[Arda Unmarred|new world]]. Elves and Men will sing with the Ainur. It is unknown what the fate of the old races, or of the old world, will be in the new one. Even the Ainur do not know anything of the second world or the Second Music. All the Ainur know is that the Second Music will be greater than the First Music.

The forces of the Valar shall fight against Melkor. Tulkas will wrestle with him, but it will be by the hand of Túrin that finally death and utter defeat will be dealt to Melkor. Túrin will run his black sword Gurthang (Iron of Death) through Melkor's dark heart, thus avenging the Children of Húrin, and the Pelóri Mountains will be leveled. In other versions of the legendarium however (see: The History of Middle-earth), Eönwë, then called Fiönwë, is the one who will kill Morgoth for his love for Arien (previously named Urwendi), instead of Turin.This is said at the end of The Hiding of Valinor.

The Silmarils will be recovered from the Earth, and Fëanor's spirit shall be released from the Halls of Mandos and he will surrender them to Yavanna. They will be broken and their Light will rekindle the Two Trees. With the flattening of the Pelóri, the light of the Trees will cover all of Arda. The battle will end and renew Arda's existence: all the Elves shall awaken and the Powers will be young again. Also, according to Dwarven legends, they will help their maker Aulërecreate Arda in all its glory again.

Following this, there will be a Second Music of the Ainur. This song will sing into being a new world. Elves and Men will sing with the Ainur. It is unknown what the fate of the old races, or of the old world, will be in the new one. Even the Ainur do not know anything of the second world or the Second Music. All the Ainur know is that the Second Music will be greater than the First Music.